If you’ve recently lost your job, I’m sure you’re feeling a little defeated, rejected, and low and that makes total sense. But listen, it can happen to anyone and you will bounce back, trust me. In the meantime, I’m writing this blog in hopes it will lift your spirits and show you that there really is an upside to losing your job.
So in this blog, I will share some quick and easy tips that will help reframe your current mindset while preparing you for your job search. As hard as it may sound right now, it’s important to stay as positive as possible so that you send out good vibes and allow your wonderful traits to shine!
Okay, take a deep breath. And let’s go.
Grieve
Before I start trying to encourage you to move on from this job loss, you need to take the time to grieve. Even if it has to happen alongside your job search. A job loss is still a loss and it will take some time to wrap your head around the change. It is a totally normal part of the grieving process to experience feelings of shame and anger. So just give in to it. Give yourself permission to feel and process because it’ll be that much harder if you don’t. But it’s also important to set a reasonable time limit for wallowing because sooner than later, you have to get back out there.
Hit Reset
The good news? You have the opportunity to get clear on what you really want and start over. It’s possible that the path you were on wasn’t serving you anymore or aligning with your career goals. Or maybe you were in a job that you thought you should do versus a job that you actually wanted. Well, now is the time to pull out a good ol’ notebook and start reflecting on what it is you DO want to do. If you start job searching before spending time on this step, you may find yourself in the exact same position. My advice is to take even just a few hours—distraction-free— to reflect on your career goals.
Remember that rejection is just redirection
Sounds cliché, but it’s true! This isn’t really a rejection, rather it’s an opportunity to find a role that best serves you. The quicker you bounce back from that rejection feeling, the quicker you will be able to start your job search with a fresh mindset and the confidence that impresses recruiters and hiring managers.
A sense of relief
If your previous office was a toxic environment, you should be able to take a deep sigh of relief for the first time in a while. If this is the case, your previous employer did you a favour. I am definitely not discounting other obstacles that might be coming up right now like deciding on your next move, finding your dream job, and the financial burdens of losing a job, but I hope you can see how this might work out in the long run.
Even if you weren’t in a less than ideal workplace, you might start to realize how unhappy you were for other reasons. Be honest with yourself, were you really happy there?
Employment Insurance
If you were let go, you may be entitled to receive some employment relief. And while it may not cover all the bills, it will take some pressure off and give you time to find the RIGHT job going forward. So, take advantage of the benefits available to you while you plan your next career move.
Your real work friends will always be there
We all enjoy having lunch dates and coffee chats with our coworkers, but once you leave you will quickly see who reaches out to you and who is worth having in your network. Keep in touch with these friends you never know when you’ll be able to help each other out in the future. Besides coffee and lunch dates are always fun whether or not you are working together.
Craft your leaving story
Soon enough you will start getting callbacks for interviews so make sure to craft your leaving story. You don’t want to stumble on this answer making the recruiters suspicious. Just remember to not provide too many details or say anything negative about your previous employers. And always end with something positive you gained from your previous workplace.
Updating LinkedIn
If you aren’t ready to update your LinkedIn just yet—don’t! (unless someone is specifically asking for your profile or your previous company wants you to change it). A good tip for when you feel ready to make some edits on your LinkedIn, is to make sure your notifications are turned off so that everyone in your network isn’t informed when you do it. However, by the time you are sending out your resume, be sure you have an up-to-date LinkedIn profile.
Consider hiring a career coach
If you are still feeling overwhelmed — or perhaps excited by the opportunities out there — and aren’t sure where to start, consider hiring a career coach. They will help you get focused by honing in on your experience, skills and career goals which will ultimately help you land your dream job.
P.S. I got “let go” twice, and it was the best thing for my career, it forced me to reflect on what I really want, and here I am 🙂
With gratitude ?Jen Rose Narayan, Career + Purpose Coach
